Resilient antifriction-hub for vehicle-wheels.



G. G. CAPWBLL.

RESILIENT ANTIFRICTION HUB FOR VEHICLE WHEELS.

APPLICATION FILED 1211.2, 1911.

1,036,188. Patented Aug. 2o, 1912.

UNITED sTATEs PATENT oEEIoE.

COURTLAND G. CAPWELL, F ROSLINDALE, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR OF THIRTY- SEVEN ONE-HUNDREDTHS TO FRED RAVJITSER,` 0F SOUTH ACTON, MASSACHU- SETTS, AND TWENTY-FIVE ONE-HUNDREDTHS TO JOHN H.

MASSACHUSETTS.

MOORE, 0F BOSTON,

RESILIENT ANTIFRICTIO-HUB FOR VEHICLE-WHEELS.

specification of Letters Patent.

Application led February 2, 1911.

Patented Aug. 20, 1912. serial No. 606,103. I

To all lttf/mmy if may concern.'

Be it known that L COURTLAND Gr. CAP- WELL, a citizen of the United States, and resident of loslindale, county of Suffolk, .Stafe of Massachusetts, have invented an Improvement in Resilient. Antifriction- Hubs for Veliicle-lVheels, of which the following description, in connection Wit-h the accompanying drawing, va specification', like characters on the drawing representing like parts.

This invention has for its object the production o'f a novel resilient hub particularly adapted for vehicle Wheels, so constructed and arranged that the relative move-ments between the inner and outer members of the hub are attended with a minimum friction,

' and I have also provided novel yieldingconnecting means between the two hub members whereby the requisite resiliency of the Wheel as a Whole is provided Without recourse toany form of cushion'tire.

\I have also constructed the hub in such nn mer that should any of its parts be damageh or brokenthe entire hub can be readily removed fromitscasing, )ermanently attached to the spokes and fel y or rim of the wheel.

As will appear' hereinafterthe inner -hub member' is always concentric with the axle, While the outer complemental member of the hub is in practice rigidly connected with the felly and spokes of the Wheel.

The various novel features of my inven tion Will be fully described in the subjoined Specification and `particularly pointed out in the following claims.

Figui-el is an inner side elevation and part sectionof a hub embodying my present invention, with the cap plate of the Casin removedand also one of theA halves of the outer member of the hub, the inner ends of the wheel spokes being shown butted against the peripheral wall of the casing; F ig.,2 is a transverse sectional View taken on the line 2--2, F ig. 1, but showing'- all of the pa-rtsof the hub assembled and mounted in the casing in readiness for use Fig. 3 is a detail, vpartly in section on the line 2-2, of the assembled halves of the outer hub member,-

` but. omitting the inner hub member and the yielding, anti-friction connections between l:said members; F'g. 4 .is a .diametral sectional view of one of the halves of the outer hub member, on the line 4 4, Fig. 1.

` Before describing the resilient hub the casing therefor will. be described, and having special reference to F ig. 2 the casing is shown as a cylindrical metal box l having a closed bottom 2 which is extended adjacent its periphery to forni an annular flange 3, the bottom of the casing in practice being at the outer-side of the Wheel, the butt ends 4 of the longitudinally rigid spokes 5 of the wheel being arranged around the periphery of the casing. At their outer ends the spokes attached in any suitable manner to the wheel rim or felly, {no} shown). VA removable flat ring seats on theopen inner end of the casing and is held in place by suitable bolts 7 which pass throughy the ring, and the flange 4, and through some or all of the spoke butts.

By reference to Fig. 1 will be seen that herein I provide for alternate spoke butts to be traversed by the bolts, the butts fitting tightly in the channel formed in the ring 6 and the flange 3. To all intents and purposes, therefore, the casing forms a perma --lar cap plate 8 having its periphery lianged at 9, see Fig. 2, to overlap the inner edge of the ring` y6 and tightly close thevcasing at the joint, the cap plate having a central hole 10 for the passage of the axle v11. A metallic disk or washer l2 attached to the axle closes the opening 10 so that dirt and'moisture 1 cannot` enter the casing, and retains in the latter grease or other viscous lubricant with which I prefer to pack the casing and the hub contained therein.

-In the present embodiment of my invention the' inner member of the hub, preferably made kas a metal casting, comprises a tubular central lhub portion 13 Which re ceives "and is keyed or otherwise fixed upon the axle 11 and held thereon by a retaining nut 14, Fig. Q, and as shown herein the.

tubular part 13 has a lateral Web'15` having a, series of peripheral concavvities orseats 16 alternating with radial portions 17, six of the seatsI being shown in Fig. 1, symmetrically disposed with relation to the axis of the hubmember. The seats are relatively ldeep compared with their length, the curvature of the seats being of short radius,

radial lilies from the center of the axle 11 abutments when the members of the hubv move relatively.

The outer hub in like separable halves, circular, metallic disks 19, each one having on its inner face a radial series of grooves constituting ball, raceways Q0, their outer member is preferably made and these halves are l ends communicating with screw-threaded one .of the halves i 24, set 120o apart, as sho'wn/in Fig.

f with the outer ksemi-circular sockets 21. Then the two halves or disks v19 are assembled face to face. each pair of semi-circular' sockets 21 form a threaded hole having its outer end periphery of the hub member, but the inner face of each half 19 is circularly recessed at Figs. 1 and 4, so that when the inner and outer menibers of the hub are assembled the abutn'lent web 15 will tit easily between the parallel bottoms of the opposed circular recesses 22. Referring to Fig. 1 the faee 23 of 19 is the meeting ,face which abuts against the like face of the other half 1t) when said halves are assembled, the t'ace 2? being in the plane of separation of the halves, as will be manifest. The halves are tixedlgyI connected by screws 1, the heads and ends of the screws being flush faces of the halves 1t), the latter being assembled after the web 15 of the innerhub member has been positioned in the opposed recesses Opposite, central holes 25 in the halves 1S) receivetho. ends of the tubular portion i3 of the inner hub, the `holes being large enough to permit amplel relative movement of the inne' and outer hub members transversely to the axle 11.

The bearing balls 18 move easily in and longitudinally of the radial raceways 20, and said balls are yieldingly held against the concave abutments 16 by strong springs 2li, the inner end of each spring engaging a ball and the onter end of the spring seating in a recessed and externally threaded plug 27 which is screwed into the socket 21. 1in Fig. l one of said plugs is shown in section, theI others in elevation, and by screwing in said plugs the springs are compressed to the desired extent 'lo facilitate the adjustment of the plugs each one has a central, inwardly extended boss` '2S having a polygonal hole Qi) for the reception of a key or similar tool by n'eans ot' which 'the plug is screwed in or out.4 ln any case the outer ends of the plugs never extend beyond the periphery of the t\\'rr|mrt outer hub member 19, ttl, so that when the springs are to thc proper adat the ju'stment and the retaining nut 14 is screwed up on the axle 11 .the outer hub member is seated in the casing 1, which it fits snugly, and the cap -plate 8 is applied. The said plate, casing and outerhub member must be rigidly connected, and this I attain by bolts 30 which pass through holes 251 in the outei hub member, alternating with the screws Q4., as most clearli shown in Fig. 1.

As the ease and hub members are preferably packed with grease or some viscous lubrican'zit is very desirable that there shall be practically no leakage. This l provide for byf making the heads 3Q, Fig. '2, of the bolts tapered to lit tightly in tapered seats in bosses 33 on the cap plate, and the nuts 345 have tapered inner faces to tit in correspondingly tapered seats in bosses 35 on the bottom Q of the casing. set up they and the bolt heads are drawn so tightly into thc'hosses as to etfectually prevent. any leakage of lubricant. rlfhese bolts connect the outer hub member and the casing and hcucevthe said lmb member is rigidly connected with the non-resilient spokes an'd telly of the wheel.

ln setting up the springs 2G they are so adjusted that when the inner and outer hub members are concentric the pressure will be equally exerted by all of the springs. tend ingl to maintain the concentric relation of Isaid members.

ll`hc springs and bearing balls constitute a yielding connection between the inner and cuter hub members, as will be apparent, and` when strains are imparted to either member one or more of the springs will be compressed as one member moves relatively to the other transversely to the axle, the strains thereby being taken up readily and gradually, so that shocks are absorbed and the wheel. has the resilience which otherwise would be atl'orded by a Cushion tire.

By referenceto Fig. 1 it willV be manifest that in any angular position ofthe wheel the-load weight transmitted through axle 11 and almtmentsl 1G will be sustained yieldingly by the cooperative action of at least two 'of the spring-sustained bearing balls and their corresponding baclestops or plugs 27 and thereby transferred to the outer hub member, shock and jar being taken up, equalized and distributed by the springs.

The b airing balls have avery small oontact surface with the abutments 16 and said balls can' roll or turn over in their movements longitudinallyof the rareways 20, but it, will be apparent that there can be no novement of said balls at. right angles to the rarcuays. This is important in preventing improper relative rotativemovement of the. hub members` for when such movement oc.q curs the concaved abutments slide upon the balls 18 and then press laterally against them, as the radial portions 17 are .moved tolVhen the nuts areV ward the balls, such lateral pressure being the side walls ot' abutment also preventing any'chattering or undue vibratio-nof the balls when the wheel is revolving, nor can the coperating parts ]am.

To remove the hub from the wheel the nuts 34 are -unscrewed, releasing the bolts 31, and then the hub as a whole can be withdrawn from the casing 1, and by removing the retaining nut 14 said hub is readily detached from the axle. The hub itself can now be examined at leisure, and the inner and outer members thereof can be separated b removinor the connectin screws 24.

Should al spring break or become otherwise damaged, or if it. is desired to insert a new bearing ball, the proper back-stop or plug 27, is screwed out of its socket 21, when the spring and ball can be removed, and new ones substituted.

Relative axial movement of the inner and outer hub members is prevented by the opposed and parallel walls of the internal chamber formed by the opposed circular recesses 22 of the halves 19 of the outer hub member, for the abutment web l5 is held in such internal chamber between its opposite walls with only suflicint clearance to permit an easyv sliding movement of the one part over the other.

The construction is simple, strong and dnrable, and the hub members can be made at a relatively low cost, said members and the castings being most conveniently made as castings, and whatever machine work is necessary can be done very readily.

Changes or modificationsv in'various details of construction and arrangement may be made by thoseskilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention as set forth in the claims hereunto annexed.' f

Having fully described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

l. In a device of the class described, the combination, with an inner hub member having an axle-receiving port-ion and a lateral web provided With peripheral and symmetricallyV disposed concave abutments, of an outer, two-part hub member having a circular-,chamber to receive said web, :radial rareways in said member terminating at their outer endsin threaded sockets, backstops screwed thereinto from the periphery Vof said outer member, anti-friction bearing members movable longitudinally in said raceways and cooperating each with a concave abutment, and a spring interposed between each bearing member and a backlstop, to maintain the bearing member in yielding engagement with its corresponding abut ment.

2. In adevice of the class described, the combination with an inner hub member adapted to be attached to-a'n axle and having a lateral web provided With peripheral and symmetrically disposed concave abutments, of an outer hub member circularly chambered to receive said web and having radial raceways communicating with the chamber, bearing members radially movable Within the raceways of said outer member, manually and adjustable means accessible at the outer ends of the raceways to maintain said bearing members in yielding engagement with their corresponding abutments, the sides of the raceways acting to guide and prevent non-radial movement of the lbearing members, the concave abutments extending loose-ly into the inner ends of and crossing the4 raceways and thereby maintaining said bearing members at all times wholly within the raceways.

3. In a dev'ee ot the class described, the combination with an inner hub member adapted to e attached to an axle and having a lateral web provided with peripheral and symmetrically disposed concave abutis ments, of a centrally open outer 'hub member internally chambered to receive the weband permit relative rotative vand lateral movements'ot the hub members, said xouter hub member having radial ra'ceways com- Vmunicating at their inner ends with the in tei-nal chamber, bearing balls movable longitudinally within said raceways and eac-h coperating with a concave abutment, the sides of the raceways serving to g ide said balls radially of the outerhub m ber, the abutments entering loosely the inner ends of the raceways and maint-ainingvthe balls a't/` all tim/es wholly within the raceways, radially arranged springs carried by said member one in each raceway and at their inner ends engaging the balls and maintaining them yieldingly against the correspondingabutments, and a fixed back-stop for the. outer end of each spring.

4.' The combination, with an axle, and an.

inner hub member lixedly mounted thereon and having a lateral web provided With peripheral, symmetrically disposed and onncave abutments, o t' an outer, centrally? Lopen hub member having connected spokes and. internally chambered to receivealid slidably confine the abutment, radial raceways in the chamber, terminating at their outer ends in 125 threaded sockets located in the peripheral portion otl said' chamber-ed member, bearing balls in the ra/ceways, coperating each with an abutment,y a spring to yieldingly maintain each ball in engagement with its abut-'1an soy ttl

'be tixedly connected ment, and externally able plugs in the threaded sockets to serve as back-stops for and to vary the action ot the springs.

5,. In a device ot the class described, the combination with an inner hub member adapted to be attached to an axle and having a lateral web provided with peripheral and symmetrically disposed concave abut ments, of an outer linb member adapted to ivith the spokes of a wheel and internally chambered to receive the abutment iveb, radial grooves in the Walls of the chamber, to constitute race- .vays, a threaded socket in the nnchambered portion ot' the outer hub member, atthe outer end oft and alined with each raceway, a bearing ball radially movable in each race.- ivay, a. plug screwed into each socket and having a spring seat in its inner end, and a coiled spring interposed between each plug and the ball in the corresponding raceway, to yieldingly press the ball against one ot' the concave abutments.

t3. In a device o't the class described, the combination. with an inner hub member adapted to be attached to an axle and hav ine' a lateral web provided with peripheral anu symmetrically disposed concave abutments, each abutment having a curvature otl short radius` rt an outer hub member internally and centrally chainbered to receive the .veb and pcrn'iit limited lateral and ro tative movement thereof and having radial racewavs communicating"with the chaniber, bearing balls movable longitudinally within the raeeivays and cooperating with the abutments, yielding means in eaclnrace 'ay to` maintain the ballsI in engagement with the abutments, the raceivays serving to permit 'adial movement o't said balls while preaccessible and adjust' venting movement thereof at right angles to radii, the abutments extending loosely into the inner ends of the aceways and crossing the same and maintaining the balls wholly within the raceivays at all times, relative rotative movement of the hub members be'- ing limited by coperation of the side poring balls, and a plug in the outer end of each raeeway engaging the yielding means therein.

ing permanently closed at its bottoni and having attached spokes, and a detachable cover plate centrally apertured for the reception of the axle and the inner hub mem ber, ot inner and outer hub members, the former having a series of symmetrically disposed concave abutmentsl and adapted to be mountedlixedly on the hub, said outer member titting snugly and removably in the casing and internally chambered for the reception of the abutments, radially disposed, Ayielding connections between the inner and outer hub members and cooperating with the concave abutments, headed bolts extended through the cover plate, casing bot toni, and outer hub member, 'to fixedly connect said partsI in operative relation, nuts to tighten said bolts, and means on the cover plate and -casing bottom to cooperate `with the bolt-heads and the nuts to prevent leakage ot' lubricant from the casing and contained hub members. In testimony whereof, 'I have signed my naine to this specification, in the presence of two subscribing Witnesses.

COURTLND G. CAl.\VELL. Witnesses:

Jenn C. Enivanns,

'liioiias J'. DRUiiiuoNn.

tions of the abutments with the correS]')ond- 7l The combination with a cylindrical cas' 

